Tishby, a New York Times bestselling author and Israel's former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization, currently resides in Los Angeles.
Tishby describes Passover as "the holiday of Jewish national liberation." This year, the holiday commences on the evening of April 22. The Book of Exodus recounts the historical context of Passover, detailing the oppression of the Hebrew ancestors by the Egyptian pharaohs over 3,000 years ago. Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt and towards the "Promised Land" of Israel.
In contemporary times, Tishby explains, "Jewish tradition instructs us to view this suffering and redemption as if we experienced it ourselves at our annual festive – and instructive – meal and gathering, the Seder, when we recount the Exodus from Egypt." However, the 2024 Passover celebrations carry a different sentiment.
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"Next week, at millions of homes in America, our Seders will be bittersweet, as our hearts are in the terror tunnels beneath Gaza where our fellow Jews are being violated and tortured daily," Tishby reveals. The ongoing situation in the Middle East is a difficult topic to discuss, a sentiment that Moses, the "Passover hero," was familiar with.
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Tishby recounts that Moses "actually begged God not to choose him to plead for his enslaved brethren," citing Exodus 4:10 where Moses says, "Behold, they will not believe me, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." God's response, however, was to assure Moses that he was the right person for the task and to instruct him to "go unto Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Let my people go,’" Tishby adds.
As a proud Jewish woman, Tishby feels compelled to raise awareness about the hostages' predicament. "My heart is bleeding for them," she admits. She further states that "according to both the United Nations and the released hostages," those still in captivity are subjected to daily rape and abuse.
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"There’s a reason why the Jewish holiday of freedom has a bitter taste this year, and no, it’s not the bitter herbs," Tishby remarks. The ongoing crisis makes it impossible to rest, she says, "while our friends and family languish in virtual slavery."
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This Passover, Tishby urges people to follow in Moses' footsteps and demand the freedom of the Jewish people. She encourages individuals to "go to your elected officials and demand that they tell Hamas, ‘Let my people go,’" echoing the biblical plea for liberation.